Peres inquired about how Slovenia is coping with the current uncertainties related to the global economic crisis, the STA has learnt from Pahor's office.

The Slovenian PM reiterated that he was satisfied with the consensus reached at the eurozone summit last week after he underlined the importance of a new loan package for Greece in preventing a new wave of recession in the EU in talks with his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in the morning.

Pahor and Peres also exchanged views on the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, agreeing that peace could not be forced upon the sides, and that talks and compromise were required to reach a solution.

Like Netanyahu, Peres took interest in the Slovenian-Croatian agreement to resolve the long-standing border dispute through international arbitration. He said the deal was "very instructive" in the task awaiting Israel in relations with its Palestinian neighbours.

Pahor also met opposition leader Tzipi Livni and Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, and attended the signing of an agreement on cooperation in tourism by Slovenian Ambassador Boris Sovic and Israeli Minister of Tourism Stas Misezhnikov.

Pahor also visited the Yad Vashem museum of the Holocaust and planted an olive tree on Mount Herzel, the national cemetery of Israel.

In a brief address, he voiced the wish for the growth of the olive tree to symbolize the development of relations between Slovenia and Israel and their wish for peaceful coexistence with other countries.

Pahor began his first official visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories with a meeting with Netanyahu today. He is due to meet Palestinian officials in Ramallah on Wednesday.